John Letzing

1 week ago | weforum.org | John Letzing

Global military spending spiked last year, drawing comparisons to the Cold War era. Governments will almost certainly fund continued increases by ramping up borrowing, according to the World Economic Forum’s most recent Chief Economists Outlook. That comes amid warnings that public debt is already hitting troubling levels. The wisdom in of much of the buildup will therefore rely on spending that can propel broader-based growth.

1 week ago | weforum.org | John Letzing

The ‘productivity-pay gap’ has been widening for decades. This disparity between rising output and sluggish wages may only grow further with the spreading use of artificial intelligence. ‘Increasing inequality’ was among the AI-related risks flagged in the World Economic Forum’s most recent Chief Economists Outlook. But thinking big picture could create and nurture new areas of (well paid) human expertise.

1 month ago | es.weforum.org | John Letzing

En el Día del Trabajo 2025, reflexionamos sobre cómo la guerra de aranceles y el proteccionismo podrían afectar a la jornada laboral. Las políticas destinadas a una mayor industrialización y autosuficiencia nacional tienen el potencial de crear nuevas oportunidades de empleo. Pero la historia indica que no es fácil sortear el principio de la "ventaja comparativa". Se trata de mucho más que apretar tornillos.

1 month ago | weforum.org | John Letzing

On this Labour Day it’s worth considering ways in which tariff wars and rising protectionism could theoretically impact an average workday. Policies aimed at greater domestic industrialization and self-sufficiency have the potential to create new job opportunities. But history suggests that it’s not so easy to work around a principle like ‘comparative advantage.’It’s about more than learning how to screw in little screws.

1 month ago | weforum.org | John Letzing

The European Union has opted to push back against tariffs imposed by the US, a traditionally vital trading partner. But it’s also sought to negotiate in the face of the US’s paused ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs and other levies. It’s a balancing act that looks beyond basic economics to navigate a disorienting period. “Liberation Day” once had an unambiguously positive meaning in the context of Europe’s ties to the US. Now, “liberation” has the ring of a warning shot.